Vegetation and flora of the Solander Islands, Southern New Zealand

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The Solander Islands, south of South Island, hold 53 vascular plant species, mostly ferns, orchids, and composites with wind-borne propagules. One-third of the species on Big Solander Island are very rare, being either coastal or confined to a sheltered summit plateau. Peat covers the island, supporting Olearia lyallii and some Senecio stewartiae on the plateau, giving way to S. reinoldii at lower altitudes and on rocky sites, then to Hebe elliplica near the shore line. Grassland of Poa astonii dominates rocky lower slopes, and P. foliosa occupies gullies and debris fans. Wind and salt spray are the main factors affecting plant distribution. Large populations of fur seals modify the shore line vegetation and elsewhere burrowing seabirds and Bullers mollymawk affect the vegetation, both mechanically and by soil disturbance and manuring. Vegetation most closely resembles that on the Snares and on small islands near Stewart Island, though there are some surprising absences from the flora. All vascular plants and bryophytes are listed. The islands have received little interference by man and appear to be quite unmodified. No evidence was seen of past fires and the only adventive plants are Sonchus cf. oleraceus and S. asper, both uncommon. The only introduced animal is the weka, which has probably indirectly affected vegetation by depredation of burrowing sea birds, but no introduced mammals are apparent. Thus it is one of the few New Zealand offshore islands lacking rats, so its status as a special area of Fiordland National Park should be rigorously enforced to prevent accidental introductions of vermin.

This publication has 14 references indexed in Scilit: